Researchers have found that slimmers who set a calorie limit for each meal instead of a day are more likely to eat less.

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A study at the Warwick Business School asked dietitians for a & # 39; budget & # 39; to determine for their calorie intake.

The results, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, showed that dieters with a budget per meal and per snack had an average daily amount of 1,528 calories.

A study at Warwick Business School asked dietitians for a & # 39; budget & # 39; to determine for their calorie intake (file image)

The second group, considering what they generally ate, estimates an average of 2,011 calories per day.

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Both groups ate less than their allowance. Those who budgeted individually for each meal actually consumed an average of 1,417 calories, 219 fewer than those with a single daily limit.

Study leader Dr. Miaolei Jia, who led the study, said: & # 39; Those with a daily budget thought about reducing calories for meals such as dinner and snacks, thinking they were most likely to consume too much, but didn't think to other meals.

& # 39; Those who budgeted a meal-by-meal approach reduced the calories in all the meals they ate, reducing their daily amount. & # 39;

Aradhna Krishna, from the University of Michigan, who was also working on the research, said the approach may also work for those who want to reduce smoking or drinking.

She said: & # 39; Our results are relevant not only to determine how much you eat, but also how much you smoke or drink – any context in which people have a motive to reduce their consumption. & # 39;

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The budgets for each meal individually actually consumed an average of 1,417 calories, 219 fewer than those with a single daily limit (file image)